Dennis Halft OP participated in the JRD-Conference about Dialogue as a Way of Preaching

[30-08-2014] Travelling from all over the world, almost 100 Dominican brothers, sisters and laity gathered in Surabaya, Indonesia, from August 11-16, 2014. One of them was Dennis Halft OP, M.A. (Mainz, Germany), Non Resident Permanent Fellow of the Institut M.-Dominique Chenu. He belonged to the group of Dominicans they was there for the JRD. Another group was there for the Justice, Peace and Care of Creation (JPCC) - Asia Pacific Region, even if their own theme for the meeting was also interreligious dialogue.

Primarily, the encounter was centered on a common theme of Dialogue as a Way of Preaching. This was further broken down into three major sub-themes: "Fundamentalism and violence as realities of our world"; "The Word and the words of Dialogue" and "Dialogue as bridge-building towards peace". There were presentations, responses, group work and plenary discussions, held jointly and separately between the JPCC and the JRD.

One presentation was by the Master of the Order, Bruno Cadoré OP, where he expressed his desire to see the initial formation of the brethren encompassing, not just a theoretical learning of dialogue, but also practical experience in other countries and cultures, even if it meant extending the period of formation.